Devices for mixing liquids



Aug. 5, 1969 P. G. HAZLEHURST ET AL DEVICES FOR MIXING LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 31, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5, 1959 P. s. HAZLEHURST ETAL 3,459,407

DEVICES FOR MIXING LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 51, 1968 2 Sheets-$heet 2 United States Patent US. Cl. 259-4 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for mixing two or more liquids comprising two channels leading to a single mixing duct having opposed walls which are corugated to create turbulent flow therein.

This invention relates to methods of, and devices for, mixing two or more liquids.

According to this invention a method of mixing two or more liquids comprises establishing a confluence of streams of the respective liquids, and constraining the united streams to flow through a duct which is shaped to create turbulent fiow throughout its length, the latter being suflicient to ensure thorough mixing of the liquids.

A mixing device in accordance with the invention, for use in carrying out the method defined above, comprises a slab-like structure having separate intake ports for the respective liquids, channels leading from those ports and arranged to establish a confluence of streams of the liquids, and a mixing duct which receives the united streams; this duct, which is designed to create turbulent flow, having, throughout its length, either a multiplicity of contiguous cavities or at least two series of flutings, the cavities or flutings being sufliciently numerous to ensure thorough mixing of the liquids.

The number of cavities or flutings which it is necessary to provide in the mixing duct depends upon how many liquids are to be mixed, as well as upon their relative viscosities. Mixing results from the turbulence created by the numerous and very frequent changes in direction of flow, induced by the cavities or the flutings as the case may be. Although the mixing duct may be arranged to follow any desired path, it preferably has a zig-zag configuration.

Refering to the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mixing device constructed and arranged to operate in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of a component of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line III- H1 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 shows schematically a broken front elevation of another mixing device constructed and arranged to operate in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line VV in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are perspective views of two components which, when fitted together, co-operate to form a practical embodiment of the mixing device depicted schematically in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of a locating peg which is used to ensure that the components shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 are assembled correctly.

The mixing device illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes a rectangular plate 1 having, near one end, separate intake ports 2 and 3 (FIG. 2) for receiving, from supply pipes 4 and 5 (FIG. 1), the respective liquids which are to be mixed. Channels 6 and 7, formed in the face of the plate 1, communicate with the respective intake ports 2 and 3 and are arranged to establish a confluence of streams of the liquids at the inlet end 8 of a mixing duct 9. The latter, which has a zig-Zag configuration, comprises a multiplicity of contiguous cavities 10 formed by drilling blind holes (see FIG. 3) in the face of the plate 1; the outlet 11 of the duct 9 being at the end of the plate remote from the intake ports 2 and 3. A tightly-fitting cover 12 (FIG. 1) is located on the plate 1 by dowels 13, and is firmly secured to it by screws 14 in order to constrain the liquids to flow only through the channels 6 and 7 and the mixing duct 9. The supply pipes 4 and 5 are screwed into holes in the cover 12 which register with the respective intake ports 2 and 3. Depending upon their viscosities, the liquids may either be caused by flow by gravity through the mixing device or else be injected under pressure.

Experiments have shown that thorough mixing, even of highly viscous and diificulty miscible liquids, can be achieved with a mixing duct the length of which is measured in inches rather than in feet.

A variant of the device already described is depicted schematically in FIGURE 4. It has a mixing duct 15 of zig-zag shape, but, instead of forming contiguous cavities by drilling blind holes, in this case the duct 15 is created by drilling contiguous holes completely through a rectangular plate 16, with the result that the duct has a series of narrow flutings 17 constituting each of two opposite walls. The plate 16 is also slotted right through to form separate passages 18 and 19 between the respective intake ports and the inlet end 20 of the mixing duct 15. Consequently, with this design of mixing device, the apertured mixing plate 16 has to be tightly sandwiched between two cover plates 21 and 22 (FIG. 7). These are assembled, with intervening longitudinal spacing bars 23, to form a box-like casing 24 into which the mixing plate 16 can be inserted at one end, actually the lower end of the casing 24 as seen in FIGURE 7. The mixing plate 16 has, at its outlet end, a transverse member 25 (FIG. 6) to facilitate its its removal from the casing 24 when it needs to be cleaned. The member 25, of course, has an aperture that registers with the outlet end of the mixing duct 15.

Correct location of the mixing plate 16 in the casing 24 is achieved by using a tapered locating peg 26 (FIG. 8), which is inserted through a hole 27 in the cover 21 (FIG. 7) to enter a location hole 28 (FIG. 6) in the mixing plate 16.

The components of the casing 24 are located by dowels 29, and are firmly secured together by screws 30.

Although they are not shown in FIGURE 7, supply pipes (just like the pipes 4 and 5 in FIGURE 1), for the respective liquids to be mixed, are screwed into corresponding intake ports 31 and 32 in the cover 21.

We claim:

1. A mixing device for mixing a plurality of liquids, comprising a slab-like structure having separate intake ports for the respective liquids, channels leading from said ports and arranged to establish a confluence of streams of the liquids and a mixing duct for receiving the united streams, two opposed walls of said duct being formed throughout its length with a multiplicity of transverse corrugations, said corrugations being positioned to form successive constructions in said duct which are sufiiciently numerous to insure thorough mixing of the liquids.

2. A mixing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said corrugations are formed by two series of flutings.

3. A mixing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said duct is formed by a plurality of contigous cavities.

4. A mixing device as claimed in claim 3 in which said contiguous cavities are blind holes in one face of 3 4 a plate, which plate is provided with a tightly fitting 832,400 10/1906 Lyons 259150 cover. 1,264,438 4/1918 Rasmussen 259l80 5. A mixing device according to claim 3 in which said 2,595,472 5/1952 Larkin 165-469 XR cavities are holes extending completely through a central 3,347,303 10/ 1967 Herman 2504 XR plate and said central plate is tightly sandwiched be- 5 tween two cover plates. WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner 6. A mixing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said mixing duct has a zig-zag configuration. BELL, Assistant Examiner References Cited 10 U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3g; 1 5 1 9; 259 1 0 600,227 3/1898 Knispelet al l65l70 

